To rooster or not to rooster?

In contemplating the addition of laying hens to our budding chicken enterprise, one question that keeps coming up is whether to include a rooster in our little flock.  Until recently, I've come down pretty much in the no rooster camp, being as the males are not required for eating egg production.  Plus they're noisy and eat a lot, and in my previously uninformed opinion, are a lot of work for a chicken who's only contribution is to eat too much, look good, and be loud.

Rhode Island Red Roo

Admittedly, my experience with roosters is extremely limited.  With our Cornish Rock Cross meat birds, the roosters meet their maker before becoming obnoxious early morning alarm clocks.  A neighbor down the road owns a flock of stunning Rhode Island Reds (probably, I'm a newb when it comes to identifying breeds) that contains three fabulous roosters.  Seriously, these boys are handsome and they know it.  One of these roosters is quite the character and often will wander far afield, leading his little harem of ladies behind him.  Last summer, he took to visiting several of the nearby homes with the express goal of giving everyone early morning wake-up calls.  Quite thoughtful of him, really.  Thankfully, we were a way down his list so by the time he arrived under our bedroom window to crow his little heart out, we were usually already awake.  But still, you can see how this contributes to my less-than-favorable impression of rooster ownership.

In talking with our friend Jon* about laying hens, he suggested that maybe a rooster might not be such a bad idea.  Since we live in a rural area, keeping a rooster is a possibility (many municipalities prohibit roosters since they're, well, noisy).   Here are a few pros and cons for having a rooster in your backyard flock:

Rooster Pros

• it is believed roosters help diminish or even eliminate pecking order among hens; this is supposedly helpful when introducing new hens in the flock or if you have a mixed breed flock
• roosters will protect the flock from perceived threats by rounding up the flock into a safe place, sounding a warning, and even attacking predators
• if you want to build your flock the old fashioned way, you need a rooster for egg fertilization
• in the absence of a rooster, sometimes one of the hens will take on the role of head chicken which may even lead to decreased egg production because she quits laying eggs so to keep the girls in top laying form owning a rooster may be helpful
• rumor (or old wives' tales) claims that fertilized eggs taste better
• roosters can be highly entertaining - who doesn't look a chicken with a 'tude strutting around the yard?

Rooster Cons

• roosters can, well, wear the hens out which can lead to loss of feathers on hens' backs and even to injuries and infection from over-enthusiastic mounting - this can especially be an issue if you have a small flock
• roosters can take their protection role too seriously and become aggressive with their keepers, especially with children
• they can be loud, often at many times during the day (and sometimes night), not just morning
• low food value sine most roosters of hen-laying breeds do not make good meat birds
• increased feed consumption

So we're still considering the addition of a roo or not.  Being as it's never a guarantee when purchasing chicks that they'll all be girls, it may become more of an issue of what we end up with.  

*See Jon's new farming adventures at his new site/blog Skookum Farmstead.  He and a buddy are taking a piece of land from neglected to productive farm; current adventures including foraging, orchard maintenance and piggies.